"I don't think he looks quite as explosive or as quick as he has in the past," Van Gundy said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Now, he's still above almost everyone in the league at that size athletically, but he has not totally looked like himself to me."

Howard has long been considered the NBA’s best center and its most gifted defensive player. Over his career, he averages 18.4 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. The numbers from this season—17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks—are not far off from his career averages. Still, Howard has not quite been himself, and Van Gundy thinks the move from a No.1 option to a pseudo No.2 is one reason.

"It's a big adjustment for him going from being the guy to not only being the No. 2 guy but really a No. 2 guy that really doesn't get the ball very much at all," Van Gundy said. "It's a different deal and an adjustment he has to make. Those kind of things take time."

A streak of six wins in seven games helped the Lakers to reach .500 at 15-15. Early struggles led to a 1-4 record and the firing of Mike Brown, a result stemming from issues with defense and injury. Howard, recovering from offseason back surgery, had an effect on both areas.

Even as he recovered from injury, Howard worked to erase mistakes as an anchor to the Lakers’ defense. In fact, in conversations with Van Gundy, the Lakers’ defense was one of few Howard complaints. He also had his complaints about Van Gundy at one point, yet the coach maintains no ill feelings toward Howard and two maintain communication.

"Dwight and my time in Orlando, I thought the relationship was good, worked well, produced results and that's what player-coach relationships in this league should be about, are the results that they get and the results here were good, mainly because Dwight's as good as he is. He's a great, great player and I have a great appreciation for what he did for our teams and for me as a coach."

Van Gundy has a similarly positive outlook on what Howard can do for the Lakers.

"I think he's getting ready to have a great year and you've got to have some patience, which is not a thing that fans really have in abundance and I understand that," Van Gundy said. "I think if they can stay healthy, by late January you'll have a pretty good indication of whether or not things are working."